Twentieth Century Fox executives said on Monday they had signed a deal covering 21 countries.

Ice Age: Collision Course

Les Films 26 will handle Fox films across North And West Africa in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Togo, Republic Of The Congo, Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Niger, Benin, and Central African Republic.

The deal also covers Chad, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Republic Of Guinea, Republic Of Mali, Islamic Republic Of Mauritania, Republic Of Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Burundi.

Titles in the initial wave include Ice Age: Collision Course, Assassin’s Creed from New Regency, The Birth Of A Nation from Fox Searchlight and DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls.

Les Films 26 owner and CEO, Jean-Paul de Vidas, said: “I’m honored and delighted to lead Films 26 at this important time. Not only is this a unique opportunity to accelerate our experience in the rapidly growing and evolving African marketplace, it’s also a privilege to play a key role with 20th Century Fox in realizing the vision of a vibrant future for cinema Africa.

“As of today, Les Films 26 is the first and only company to develop and invest in new state-of-the-art cinemas and to train a new generation of local professionals in French speaking North and West Africa. Les Films 26 is doing this because to be the first with new screens and newly trained professionals is to be the leader in the marketplace.”

Paul Higginson, Fox’s executive vice-president of international distribution (EMEA), said: “Jean-Paul De Vidas and his team have a wealth of experience in Africa, expertise in the film industry and entrepreneurial capability. We are delighted to have them as our long-term partner as we extend our involvement in the development of cinema for audiences in Africa. We see them as the perfect fit for Fox and our films.”